It’s love at first sight with linen wedding guest dresses that keep you consciously cool on the big day.
But is it OK to wear linen to a wedding?
Absolutely! Saying “yes” to a linen dress on this special occasion actually makes a lot of sense.
It’s light, breathable, and effortlessly elegant. For summer weddings, linen is the fabric of choice ensuring you’re comfortable through the longest nuptials (and late into the wildest receptions).
You can wear it for plenty of other occasions, too: Sunday brunch, beach picnics, your next vacation, or warm weather at home. Less is more with a versatile linen piece that can be dressed up or down and even layered in cool weather.
Before you type “linen dress for wedding guest” into your search bar, let us save you time with our curated list of formal linen dresses to mark the occasion.
Hot off the press (err…dress?), here’s our lovely linen favorites.
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Linen Wedding Guest Dresses For Summer Weddings
We’re head over heels for MagicLinen’s breezy dresses that are made-to-order in a small family-run Lithuanian studio.
Linen Handmade Studio brings plenty of color to the occasion with its vintage-inspired designs, handmade from 100% European-grown and OEKO-TEX-certified linen.
Why Choose A Linen Dress To Wear To a Wedding?
It’s no secret that we’re in love with linen. It’s one of the most sustainable materials on the planet (and also one of the oldest).
The fast-growing flax plant requires minimal inputs for growing (read: can be grown organically), and the resulting fabric is durable and breathable, making it one of the healthiest and most comfortable materials you can wear.
Wait, can a linen dress be formal?
Absolutely! Like other natural fabrics (such as hemp and organic cotton), linen can be used for practically any style you can imagine. The brands on this list offer plenty of options for linen formal dresses as well as casual dress styles for every day.
So what dress is not appropriate for a wedding?
We’ll leave that to your imagination. Suffice to say, just don’t wear anything that could be mistaken for a wedding dress!
Avoid white and off-white colors so as not to detract from the blushing bride, and remember to check the dress code for any specifics.
How We Chose The Best Linen Dresses For Wedding Guests
For all lovely linen items—from linen sheets to sustainable suits—we use our sustainable and ethical fashion criteria to inspect the ethical fibers of a brand, through and through.
That’s why we also used these to find the best linen wedding guest dresses for keeping you consciously cool in all weather.
Materials:
Sustainably-sourced linen produced without harmful chemicals makes for one of the best sustainable fabrics.
We ideally like to see it in 100% pure form, but if it blended with other fibers, these should be natural, too.
- Certifications: OEKO-TEX, Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH)
Supply chain and labor practices:
Ethical manufacturing is non-negotiable. Many of these brands produce their linen clothing in-house, meaning full control over worker conditions and pay.
When outsourcing production, we ideally look for third-party manufacturing certifications that ensure workers receive living wages and have healthy and safe working conditions.
When these aren’t available, transparency, traceability (i.e. small supply chains), and comprehensive codes of conduct help avoid potential greenwashing.
Carbon commitments & green practices:
Beyond small supply chains and sustainable sourcing of the linen fabric, green manufacturing can include practices to limit textile waste, renewable energy, carbon offset programs, and eco-friendly packaging materials.
Inclusivity:
Linen wedding outfits should fit all bodies, and we’re pleased to see more brands embracing a more extensive range of sizes, though some could still stand for a little improvement.
On the plus side (pun intended), many of these brands also offer custom options so you can achieve a perfect fit.
Community & charitable giving:
Not all brands are of a size to give back, but those that do help feel-good frocks feel even better.
Final Thoughts On Linen Wedding Guest Dresses
When you’re invited to celebrate a happy couple, deciding what to wear is a big part of preparing for the occasion.
From linen mini dresses to floor-length maxi dresses, linen is a sustainable and versatile material for wedding dresses, wedding guest dresses, and dresses for any other special occasion.
Of course, the most sustainable wedding guest clothing is already hanging in your wardrobe. Before you buy new, consider local second-hand stores or check out one of the online thrift stores.
When you need to buy new, opting for a linen dress for wedding guest attire keeps you and the planet consciously cool.
Know someone with a summer wedding to attend?
Share this article and spread the word about brands passionately turning their love for linen into formal dresses for the big day.
